The first hour Friday will cost an early bird admission fee of $15. Entrance will be free the rest of the time.

The Mark Twain Library Book Fair is the oldest, and one of the largest, in New England. Redding's library was founded by Samuel Clemens, Mark Twain, in 1908. Twain moved to Redding from New York City in 1907, and had more books than would fit in his new home here. He donated more than 1,000 of them to start the library.

This year there will be more than 60,000 books for sale. Highlights include art and photography books, leather-bound sets and thousands of children's books.

Earlier this week, collectors had already placed milk cartons with their names on them to reserve their places in line for entrance into the book fair.

Items will be priced as marked on Friday and Saturday, but they will be half-price on Sunday. Then on Monday it's $5 for a bag full of books.

For more information on the Mark Twain Library's 53rd Annual Book Fair, visit www.marktwainlibrary.org or call the library at 203-938-2545.